Hubballi: Of the 494 Anganwadis in the twin cities, 304 are functioning from rented buildings. To address the issue, HDMC has decided to allot sites within public gardens for 54 Anganwadis.The move is expected to provide better infrastructure and adequate space for over 1,350 children and Anganwadis and other children of neighboring colonies, to play. The gardens are also expected to have gym facilities for neighbourhood children during morning and evening hours.Veeranagouda Patil, deputy director, women and child development, Dharwad, told TOI that he had requested HDMC to allot a site for Anganwadis and got positive response. Sunita Patil, child development project officer, Hubballi asserted that the department submitted a request to allot sites at nearby gardens.“If the site is allotted away from the existing Anganwadis, it would be difficult for kids to come to Anganwadis. Keeping it in mind, we had requested a site at a nearby garden of concerned Anganwadi,” she asserted.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali said that there is a provision to allot 5% space of gardens for public utilisation works. “Utilising this provision, we have decided to allot a site for 54 Anganwadis in the interest of kids. We have accorded power to zonal commissioners to issue NOCs to the women and child development department and the process is on,” he asserted.Patil mentioned that HDMC had given such a site for an Anganwadi in Ghantikeri, Hubballi. “Now it is a well utilised space for Anganwadi children. Children of the neighbouring colony can also utilise the space at Anganwadis located at HDMC gardens. These instruments will be installed either by our department or HDMC as per the requirement and the situation,” she added.The department had been requesting HDMC for years and now it has got a positive response. Currently 304 Anganwadis are functioning in rented buildings like Samuday Bhavan, semi govt buildings, temples and privately owned.Many times they are being shifted here and there due to the validity of rental period. Children and their parents are facing hurdles due to such shifting of Anganwadis. Shivashankar Aiholi, a social activist, observed that this is a good move in the interest of children, as they get some gym material. “Multi-departments initiative will enhance basic amenities in the twin city,” he commented.
